Dr. Laura Lopez and Alex discuss Jane Austen

A vintage cover of Emma

Greetings! A very late, but very exciting post. I talked a bit with Dr. Laura Lopez, of our very own English department. We chatted about themes in Pride and Prejudice, class issues, and more. It was very fun to know a little bit more about Dr. Lopez and hear her recounting her experience. [Our conversation was verbal and then transcribed and edited down for clarity.] A is me, LL is Dr. Lopez.

 Q: When did you first encounter Jane Austen?
LL: I definitely remember being a teenager when I read it. I was either a junior or senior in high school. And it wasn’t a required reading, I discovered stories about nineteenth century women’s writers and I loved them. [Romantics] wasn’t necessarily my favorite style, but in Jane Eyre for example, these young women, they were kind of feisty and had thinking minds. I really loved that. I’m sure I found my way to Austen through the Brontë’s in some way after that. I read Pride and Prejudice first, and then I made my way through her other works. Emma, for example. Of course, I liked Pride and Prejudice the most. I loved a lot of nineteenth century British women writers, I didn’t read as many American [women authors] until later on, so I read a lot of British works.

A: I was going to ask: how well known were these books at the time you encountered them?

LL: No, it was very niche. I went to school in a very economically disadvantaged area, and that was not a part of our readings. I was the only one within my group to have been reading these things, nobody read them, they weren’t assigned. When I went to college though, here, [in San Antonio] there was a focus on British literature, and I was well read in a lot of it already. I never read anything contemporary in either British or American literature during college. 

A: It’s interesting how that shifted. When I took American literature with you last semester, it went all the way through to contemporary works.

LL: Yes, it’s different, it wasn’t until graduate school that we reached the contemporary stuff. It’s interesting though, because I have always been into the British authors. Charles Dickens was one of my favorites, I read all those books. When I discovered an author I really liked, I read all their work. I was definitely going to be a professor from when I was a young kid.

A: Yeah, that’s some true dedication you have!

LL: Yes, I truly just love literature, and there’s something about the late nineteenth century that I love.

Q: How has Austen shaped the way we think about love, manners, and morality? 

LL: There’s a thing many like about British mannerisms and their ways of etiquette. It was kind of cool to have that experience since we don’t see that as Americans.

A:  It reminds me of when I was young, we had a special class for a couple of weeks called Ettiquete, where we would learn the proper way to sit at a table, that sort of thing. It feels special, in a way. Almost otherworldly. 

LL: There is something nice and also safe about having traditions. Too though, I appreciate how Austen and other women writers spoke about how stifling that was. These traditions are nice to have, but then they can be confining. And you see that right away in some of these writings. The pressure from [Mrs. Bennett] to get married, the order of who should go first, those things were interesting to read as well. I just got done seeing Downton Abbey. I loved it. It’s the same sort of deal, same kind of period with those same expectations— it’s interesting to look at and I really admire it. I wouldn’t mind teaching those kinds of classes cause I know it very well. But I did become an Americanist later.

LL: You know, the thing that drew me the most was, well, everybody loves the scene when Darcy reveals his true feelings and she says no which is so hilarious. It’s all really great for the romantics inside of us but I love, which I think is something I think most people don’t talk about. I love the class stuff. How those girls had to get married or else they wouldn’t have money to support themselves. I love that older lady, who’s Darcy’s mean aunt, who wants Darcy to marry [Anne de Bourgh]. The scene where she goes to Elizabeth and tells her “You better not marry Darcy, or you’re gonna get the worst out of me, I’m going to ruin your reputation.” Then Elizabeth talks back to her, and she really sets her in her place. That scene totally shows you the class differences. They’re trying to keep those in place. There is no class mobility. They don’t want Elizabeth to move up in her class. That’s what impresses me equally. I think, when I was growing up, that’s what appealed to me because of how I grew up in a working class home where we struggled with poverty. My mother was a single parent, and I always looked for strong female characters. That really appeals to me. I was raised in a household where my mother was oppressed by my father which led them to divorce. I always like the ones that are going to fight against those structures. And then class mobility is difficult. My mother was not very educated, she had only high school education, so she was stuck in her class. That’s what’s great about Jane Austen and what I really love about the book. We can break out of the social confines of who should marry whom.  

A: Class is such an important part of the book. It’s very interesting how everyone gravitates to a different aspect of it.

LL: Elizabeth is such a strong character. The pride is in there and it is hitting at class. It’s about class pride and that’s why darcy does not give Elizabeth any time at the beginning. 

LL: That’s what I feel like contributes to Austen’s novels enduring for 250 years. Number one, she has really great dialogue in there. She’s got great writing capabilities, which will make a book endure. Very witty dialogue, really great character development. But I also think it’s those themes, because we have that still, those class problematics. As well as women who have certain roles they need to break out of. As well as love, how we define it, and do we follow what our family wants us to do or do we just love independently. She hits at all these great themes and so it’s a very enduring book.

Q: What’s a scene that always makes you laugh or cry?

LL: None make me cry. To me it’s not that kind of a book.

A: Yeah romance, for me, it’s hard to just take it at a surface level. There is just so much behind it. I can’t just enjoy it straightforwardly. I have to come around to it and spend some time with the development. A lot of the times when I’m reading a romance novel, there’s something about it that I’m picky about.

LL: I never read romance novels. My sister does though, my sisters have different reading tastes. I was rarely the one that chose the romcoms, I always liked suspense and mystery. But yeah, there is definitely more laughing in it for me. The mother, she is so funny, the father and the mother, they are interchanging, their dialogue is very funny. The father totally blows off the mother every time. He doesn’t take her seriously, it’s funny how he ignores her, but it’s sad when you’re in that kind of marriage. It’s also funny when Darcy at the dance in the beginning, when he puts her down right in front of her, like within earshot, saying how inefficient she is, unsuitable as a partner and it’s just so funny how he looks down on her.

A: The way they insult eachother so properly has such a charm to it, the way it’s obviously meant to be derogatory. It’s so classy but not at the same time.

LL: Yep. But yeah, The most emotion i get out of it though, is of course the big reveal scene. When I first read the book and you get into it right, the story and the plot. Everybody’s heart swells when the truth comes out. Like you know you’re observing that all along they both liked eachother, cause they’re so negative against eachother, and then finally, when he reveals himself, it’s like great, but he does it in such a way that is also condescending. It takes that away, the sense you have that’s hopeful, that true love does endure, but he against his senses as he says it., against good sense he’s choosing her. If she will marry him. I’m so glad she doesn’t accept that, That’s what’s cool is how she stands up for herself. 

A: Yes, it wouldn’t have been the same if she had.

LL: It’s not even her character to do that. That’s what’s so great about Elizabeth, she’s a character that draws. Any rebel character that’s outside of our norm. And I like that, that’s really good. 

Q: What character deserves their own spinoff story?

LL: Charlotte, I feel so sorry for Charlotte. Charlotte Lucas is a sad case, I feel depressed when I read about her because she settles for the minister. She deserves a spinoff. She is so capable. She’s so smart, equally as smart as Elizabeth, just maybe not as witty. She definitely deserves her own story. 

A: When we watched the movie, I recall the scene so vividly where she was talking about how she wanted protection and safety more than anything.

LL: Yeah, safety. Unfortunately with such a boring man.

LL: About two years ago, I taught literary theory and I used this book. Because there’s another book called [Pride: A Pride and Prejudice Remix], a YA novel by Ibi Zoboi. Ibi Zoboi is a Haitian writer who grew up around Brooklyn. She does her own take on it, but with YA characters. It follows similarly with one being prideful, and one is very prejudicial and biased. I put [the novels] together because in literary theory you’re trying to figure out which you would use in order to interpret a story. You know, a class or Marxist analysis, maybe psychology, or feminism. She applies race [to the story]. You can do different lenses and readings when you’re doing literary theory. That’s why [Pride and Prejudice] is fresh on my mind since I reread them about two years ago.

Olivia Gonzalez interviewing Truc Hoang! (UIW student)

 As I might have mentioned in class, I am in fact a biology student! The world of writing and the works in English is not necessarily what I'm taught in my everyday life so I wanted to interview one of my professors in the chemistry/biology expertise to talk about this more. Unfortunately, the professor I had originally planned had to take an emergency leave so instead I interviewed one of my peers, Truc, that is working with me in forensics! 

O: 1.) What was your first Jane Austen book? If this was Pride and Prejudice, did you have any background of Jane Austen yourself?

T: My background of Jane is pretty limited. In high school I was able to read pride and prejudice, and that was pretty much it! In university at UIW is where I was able to see more writing samples of her and got to read a few chapters of Northanger Abbey. 

O: 2.) Do you think that STEM students have lost their touch in writing, or the feeling of romanticism in your experience? 

T: I think they get too lost in their careers! I see these students too focused on the lab reactions and the issues are typically seen in the lab reports. For some students in the beginning, it's hard to "write like a robot." No writing in 3rd person, no mentioning feelings, it gets rough. But as you grow into the STEM field, that's normalized and that's where you see student seniors lose touch of their inner-self. 

O: 3.) Do you think that Jane’s ideas of romanticism and romantics is continued to be seen today or is it instead criticized? 

T: I do think that in the outside world it is a trend to romanticize things that usually aren't, so maybe that was because of Jane? If we are talking about within the science classes, it's definitely not seen there haha! I enjoy reading, I really do, but not everyone in these science majors are so it's nice to see a change or to hear more interests about people that don't require us to be lab partners. 

This interview was taken at the AT&T center and Truc had to go back to her job as the lab assistant. However I want to sincerely thank her for coming to join me in this interview and we get to talk books for the first time of our friendship! 

Olivia Gonzalez interviewing Dr. Muhammad Manzur Alam!

In the fall semester of 2024, I had taken a class with Dr. Alam that focused on Emily Dickenson. Within that class we talked about Jane Austen and compared her to Emily Dickinson in a good light. That class opened a door of female poets and writers that I had thought to be purely a male-dominated field in their timeframes.

 Due to him having knowledge on Jane Austen and her works, I asked Dr. Alam if I could interview him for our Jane Austen project! 

 Olivia: Question #1) What was your first Jane Austen book? If this was Pride and Prejudice, did you have any background of Jane Austen yourself? 

Dr. Alam: Yes, Pride and Prejudice was the first Jane Austen novel I read. I was an undergraduate student at the time, and I didn’t know much about her, apart from hearing my father mention her name when I was a child. 

Olivia: Question #2.) What was a character you related the most and why? Do you think there was changes in that character as you grew up or do you feel like you have "stayed as the same character" throughout your life? 

Dr. Alam: My answer may sound a bit funny! I think I related to Darcy the most—not because I was naturally drawn to his type, but because he was the hero, and I felt I was supposed to like him. In other words, I think I first decided that I had to like him, and only then started finding things to like about him. My perception of Darcy has certainly evolved over the years, especially after I began teaching the novel to undergraduate students, when I started noticing certain of his traits that are not so likeable. But isn’t that true for most characters? Let's acknowledge that Darcy himself tries to change as a person when Elizabeth holds a mirror up to him. 

Olivia: Question #3.) If you could create a new 2025 casting of Pride and Prejudice, who would you cast as who? If there's too many to think of, who would you cast for Elizabeth and Darcy? 

Dr. Alam: I think I’ve watched the 2005 movie adaptation several times because I really liked it. As a result, it’s hard for me to imagine anyone else in the lead roles—I can only picture Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet and Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy. However, if I were to recast the film, my choices might be a bit older than most people’s preferences: I’d choose Adrien Brody as Darcy and Sandra Bullock as Elizabeth. 

Olivia: Question #4.) Which part of the book resonated with you? Was it a specific scene or the overall book? And if it did resonate with you, did it also change your perspective in life? Or love? Or both!? 

Dr. Alam: It has been a really long time since I last read the book, so it’s difficult to recall any specific sections that resonated with me the most. However, I clearly remember I liked the early chapters—they do a wonderful job of setting the context and tone of the novel, and I remember instantly admiring Austen’s writing style. And yes, I certainly like the book. I’m not sure which of my perspectives it specifically changed, but I do think I’ve been shaped a great deal by the books I’ve read—as we all are. And who knows, back then, I might have even unconsciously tried to adopt a few of Darcy’s attitudes!

 Olivia: Final Question #5.) Do you think that Jane’s ideas of romanticism and romantics is continued to be seen today or is it instead criticized? 

Dr. Alam: I think it’s a fascinating question, but at the same time, quite a difficult one to answer. There are many possible ways to look at it. Much depends on social/cultural context and on how people today relate to romantic ideals. A lot has certainly changed since Austen penned those ideas through her characters—even Elizabeth and Jane, for instance, differ from each other in how they view love and marriage.

It was a pleasure to interview Dr. Alam and I thanked him for saving some time for me to talk about Jane Austen. I highly recommend taking Dr. Alam's class in the Spring for Edgar Allen Poe and see how he sees the world in poetry! 

 

Interview with Grace Ajagbe by Anahi Amaral

Dr. Ann David - Education Professor with the Dreeben School of Education

I had the wonderful privelge to interview Dr. David and hear her wonderful perspective on the timeless Jane Austen. Listen Here!!(https://1drv.ms/v/c/fee637b097cbe282/IQAGL_snoMRPTpU9lScdHawxAePFIGK6WaLsf044nPWPj6k?e=1dm8nD%20)

Dr. Haecker - A Feminist Reading of Jane Austen

     During my reading of “Pride and Prejudice,” I was fascinated by Jane Austen’s commentary on gender roles and the fragility of a woman's reputation. After Lydia runs off with Mr. Wickham, Mary notes, “Loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable; that one false step involves her in endless ruin.” Austen brilliantly illustrates in this moment how society treated women. This idea of a woman being destroyed through one poor decision can be seen in various literature, often as a way to show women the disastrous consequences of stepping out of line. 

    In fact, when Doctor Dorothy Haecker first read Jane Austen, she feared this exact outcome. Dr. Haecker stated, “She [Austen] scared me to death at first. I kept thinking something terrible would happen to her outspoken heroines.” 

    Dr. Haecker is a feminist philosophy professor at the University of the Incarnate Word with an illustrious career of standing for social justice and equality. And this career of bravery began with Austen, “Well, I think she was one of the first women writers I ever read. She nourished my secret courage; she nourished the seed of feminism within me that wouldn't bloom for more than a decade after I read the first book.” 

Dr. Dorothy Haecker, Philosophy Professor at UIW

    Throughout Austen’s stories, there are, as Dr. Haecker put it, “outspoken heroines,” and Elizabeth is one of these heroines. But Austen does not punish Elizabeth for her outspoken nature; she instead finds true love because of her courage. For Dr. Haecker, this was the beginning of her seeking to become like Jane Austen’s heroines, and the beginning of Dr. Haecker’s journey to become the awe-inspiring figure she is today. 

    
“I waited to see if I would ever find a real woman in my real life as defiant as her 'fictionally real' women. At last, I did, and then I aspired to become one myself. That's my story.”

Joshua Giles (Alumni) Reads Austen! interview with alex

Hey everyone! Finally, my podcast with Josh had been edited! I was very excited to hear from him, and have a conversation about Austen since we always discussed different books and tropes in our chats together before he graduated, and the romantics is one that is special always. Thanks for listening!

Carly Ermer Interviews Dr. Emily Clark

Dr. Emily Clark, an English professor at the University of the Incarnate Word, first read Pride and Prejudice when she was in junior high. There used to be a bookshelf for students to read for fun, and one day, she decided to pick up Austen’s novel.

Upon reading it, Dr. Clark said that she expected all the female characters to fit the “perfect idea of a woman.” Instead, she was surprised by the opposite. Dr. Clark stated that the women in Austen’s novel are unconventional and break societal norms. Each female character has distinct personalities, and they rebel against norms in different ways. Dr. Clark claimed that Austen’s progressive ideas were ahead of her time, which explains why her novels still hold significance two centuries later.

Oftentimes, the genre of Romance is not categorized as academic because it is seen as meaningless and shallow, but Dr. Clark claimed that this is not so. Dr. Clark went into detail about how the language in Pride and Prejudice is very intentional, which is what makes the humorous lines so funny, and the emotional ones hit home. This intentionality is what pushes Romance to become greater than what it is said to be, and why Austen’s novel is the second most sold book of all time.

Elizabeth and Darcy overcoming their pride and prejudices made them better people, and they were able to then understand themselves and their journeys on a deeper level. Dr. Clark stated, “I don’t feel like the end of the book is the end of the journey,” hinting that, although there was a “happy ending” of self-knowledge between the two characters, there was also a continuity that went beyond the characters merely existing—the characters' unconventionality still lives within readers after the last word has finished.

Dr. Ana Vallor (Biology Professor) on Jane Austen

Q: What was your first encounter with Jane Austen?

  Dr. V: My first encounter with Jane Austen was back in high school through her book Pride and Prejudice. We had to choose a book to read, and I always liked to read the back of the books first, and that's what got me to start reading, because it was interesting. Though I remember how unfamiliar it was because of the language, I was lost at first, but I could really appreciate the sense of humor. It was kind of dry, and you don't get it at first, but when I did, I enjoyed her "comedic" style a lot. 

Q: What do you think makes Jane Austen's novels still relevant after 250 years?

  Dr. V: I think what makes her still relevant today is that she really wrote from a female perspective, almost like a forerunner for the few women who wrote back then. Like George Sand or Mary Shelley with Frankenstein, who challenged the limitations placed on women and pushed back against them through their writing. Austen wrote her characters like women would write women, not how men would, and it aged very well. As the years went by, more women were introduced to education and literature, and because Austen was true to herself and wrote about the women's experience, the appreciation grew.

Q: What would Jane Austen think of dating apps?

  Dr. V: I'm sure she’d find them fascinating. You might think you’ve matched with a “Mr. Darcy,” only to realize he’s really a “Mr. Collins”, exactly the kind of irony she loved to write about. Mr. Collins was her way of poking fun at self-importance, while Wickham showed the darker, more deceptive side of romance. With Elizabeth caught between such contrasts, Austen captured the humor and heartbreak of dating long before our time. I think she’d have endless material to work with today because of it and might even become a dating coach herself. 

Q: If Jane Austen had a blog, what would she write and post about?

  Dr. V: If Jane Austen had a blog, I think she’d focus on women’s empowerment and independence rather than pure romance. She’d probably write insightful, witty posts about confidence, ambition, and success, something like an Oprah-style "Masterclass" for women. Still, her humor and awareness of relationships would come through, maybe in a way similar to Sex and the City’s "Carrie Bradshaw." Austen would balance commentary with clever observations about love, social
critique, and humor in her posts.

Q: You get to invite one Pride and Prejudice character to brunch. Who’s coming, and what's to say?

  Dr. V: If I could invite one Pride and Prejudice character to brunch, I think it would have to be Mr. Collins. I'd consider Mary for the chisme and then Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who’d be sassy, dramatic, and have a nice spread. But Mr. Collins would be far more entertaining. His pompous stories and self-importance would make for endless laughter, even if I were mostly laughing at him. He’s the kind of guest who’d talk nonstop about his “success” and connections, completely unaware of how ridiculous he sounds. It would be an unforgettable brunch, full of laughter and secondhand embarrassment. 

Q: What kind of influence do you think Jane Austen has on the UIW community?

  Dr. V: She continues to have a strong influence, especially among women, because it captures both the desire for romance and the importance of independence. Her story shows that love doesn’t mean giving up your sense of self; it’s about being accepted for who you are, without prejudice. That message still resonates deeply today, even within the UIW community, where empowerment and individuality are valued within the freedom to be who you are. You can see Austen’s influence everywhere, from the timeless appeal of Pride and Prejudice itself to modern adaptations like Hallmark movies and plays such as Christmas at Pemberley that will be performed soon. And of course, celebrating her 250th birthday with a tea party feels perfectly fitting, elegant, and unmistakably Austen.

-Jor J.

Interview with an Austen Alumni

Sierra Sanchez is a UIW alumna who is more than familiar with the witty Jane Austen. I was able to reach out and ask Sierra some questions about her experience and love for Austen and here's what she thought...

Tell me about your first experience with Jane Austen. How old were you? Why did you fall in love with her?

S: My first experience with Jane Austen was when I was around 16/17 and saw Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies. I decided I wanted to read the original book to compare and really enjoyed it (with the lack of zombies). As for why I fell in love with Jane Austen, it’s because her characters actually felt real, like they could be your neighbors. 

Karan and Alcott Discuss Christmas Theatre Plans and Austen's Genius

 

Alcott is incredibly fortunate to be as talented as she is and I am in awe of the passion for theatre that she has. Her dedication to historical research for the play's that are put on at our lovely UIW theatre is inspiring. The anticipation for our class viewing of this Decembers play is growing by the minute! Let us be whisked away into decking the halls at Pemberley with the Darcy and Bennet family. 

• How do you think Austen’s world of drawing rooms, dances, and letters speaks to ours today?                   Even though Austen’s world looks very different from ours, we all can find comfort in the similarities of love, family, and personal development. Her characters worry about how they come across, try to connect with people, and sometimes misunderstand each other. These are only a few examples but are all things we still experience today. I think of our own “drawing rooms” as similar to group chats and college events instead of ballrooms, but the human emotions and interactions are the same.

• What’s one scene from Austen that always makes you laugh or cry?                                                                                                                                           I definitely think its when Elizabeth reads Darcy’s letter. Once she realizes she might have been wrong. I think that always hits a little deeper. It’s such a quiet, honest moment of self reflection.

• If Jane Austen had a Substack, what do you think she’d write about?                                               Im complete honesty I had to look at what a Substack was. However I like to imagine Austen’s Substack as witty but comforting corner of the internet where she would likely share her thoughts and relationship advice. I think she would also have little sketches of everyday people, and gentle but sharp observations about our social habits. It’d be funny, thoughtful, and probably one of those newsletters everyone looks forward to opening.

• What kind of tea (or coffee!) best fits Austen’s tone?                                                                Austen’s tone feels a bit like a cozy cup of chamomile with just a hint of honey comforting and familiar, but with a little bit of sweetness. 

• If Pride and Prejudice were set at UIW, what would the Bennet sisters be studying?                           • Elizabeth – Probably English or maybe Philosophy. Something with depth of thought or observation.

  • Jane – Nursing or Nutrition. Something caring and steady.

  • Lydia – Communications or something that requires a lot of campus outreach and socializing.

  • Kitty – Psycology and the study about what makes people think.

  • Mary – Theology or Music something dedicated and a little serious in a sweet way.

  
  

• Which moment in the novel feels most real to you not as a reader, but as a human being?             For me, it’s the moment Elizabeth realizes she misjudged Darcy. There’s something so real about recognizing your own blind spots and feeling both humbled and changed by it. It’s quiet, vulnerable, and very human one of those moments we all experience in our own ways. I think it also is especially important that because she is the protagonist we see this from her POV.

As we draw closer to the cozy season, at least in me and Alcotts opinion, there is excitement in the air for not only the Christmas carols, and decorations, but its the season for all romantic comedies. This play being one that fuels that holiday nostalgia, and with Alcotts description of Austen's tone, there is much to look forward to my dear classmates. 

Dr. Kanier's reflection of Jane Austen

"Happy 250th Birthday Jane Austen"

- Michelle Segura Crow

Karan and Carmen giggle and gaggle over Austen

 

Not only did I make a potential new bestie, I mean Carmen and I IMMEDIATELY began comparing Mr. Darcy and Mr. Rochester but we were also giggling over the qualities of a gentleman. Particularly those written by women. Austen was a genius of her time and we could not help but be two bookish women who shared mutual love of literature and our very broody Mr. Rochester. swwoooon 

• How do you think Austen’s world of drawing rooms, dances, and letters speaks to ours today?

Not much has changed between our world and Austen’s really. What we search for today is the same during her time-connection with others, love, and an excuse to socialize. We are all looking for our social circle, and instead of it being framed in the context of a dance or drawing room, people gather in all sorts of spaces (coffee shops, gaming stores, bookstores…) to be in community with others. Texts now take place of letters when we talk about courtship, but I think we can take inspiration for Austen’s world and explore a slower type of courtship. I feel like letter writing forces you to really think about what you want to say and how you present it. Texts just aren’t as romantic, and we could use some more romance in our lives.

• What’s one scene from Austen that always makes you laugh or cry?

Mr. Collins' proposal to Elizabeth Bennet never fails to make me laugh. It is cringy, as is every scene that includes Mr. Collins. What makes it so funny to me is Elizabeth’s reaction every time Mr. Collins ignores her refusal. Also, his proposal speech is absolutely insane; talking about Lady Catherine (who I think Mr. Collins would have married if he could), to reminding Elizabeth that he will inherit her home, then ending it with saying that he won’t her small dowry won't bother him. Saying that with 100% confidence that he is being practical and romantic is peak comedy to me.

• If Jane Austen had a Substack, what do you think she’d write about?

I think she would write commentary on pop culture, and frame it through a feminist lens.

• What kind of tea (or coffee!) best fits Austen’s tone?

I realized I said rooibos when we first talked, but after thinking about it, I think Jane Austen is more of a fruity black tea, like currant black tea.

• If Pride and Prejudice were set at UIW, what would the Bennet sisters be studying?

Jane would be an English major with a minor in Education, and Elizabeth would double major in English and Philosophy.

• Which moment in the novel feels most real to you not as a reader, but as a human being?

The moment when Elizabeth starts reading Darcy’s letter when he explains everything. I’ve had moments like that in my life, when I realized that what I thought about someone was based on my own assumptions and prejudices. Her realization in the role she played hits close to home for me.

Finishing our discussion, I felt like truly a kindred spirit had divinely made its way to me. How very appropriate for our class. Thank you Dr. D'Amico for being the Romanticist we all need to guide our lives, and our class projects. 

Ariana Reads Austen

Ariana Hernandez, UIW English and Comm Arts

The People Have Spoken!

   Written by Mercedes Rodriguez

  When thinking about who I wanted to interview to get more of an insight on what others thought about Jane Austen, I found myself having a difficult time narrowing down my options to just one lucky person to pick their brain. I decided that I would have a whole cluster from the UIW community because the more the merrier!

    I hung up a poster on campus with a simple question:

"What Do You Know About Jane Austen?"

    The following are various responses, some anonymous, others, claimed by different majors. 

"I played one of her characters" 

     --Art Major

"She's a Romantic trail blazer-feminist. LOL :) She was beyond her time as a writer."

    --Anonymous 

"She made me reconsider my standards <3"

    The above statement received an enthusiastic "YEP!" To no surprise, others commented similar thoughts with some humor thrown in, something that I believe the Late Great Jane Austen would have had a nice chuckle at for sure.

"She's one of the reasons I'm still single (standards too high)."

    --Bio Chem Major

Dearest Bio Chem Major,

    I one hundred percent can relate. I have found time and time again that my standards are much too high and have been told the same too. But can you really blame a girl when we have legends like Austen to look up to? Is it so hard to find my Mr. Darcy in a world full of Mr. Wickhams?

    I believe that Austen is one of the first writers to introduce the idea of the romantic novel (also including the Brontë sisters of course). If you look at her novels and short stories, it's easy to pick out the enemies to lovers trope (Pride and Prejudice), second chances trope (Persuasion), or even the grumpy sunshine/black cat and golden retriever characters (I'm looking at you, Mr. Bingley). There is a reason why we keep coming back to Austen's work and it's because it's pure genius. 

    Here is what I have to say to those who tell us fellow Austenians to lower our standards: I absolutely will not because Jane Austen has shown me what real love could look like. 

    Sincerely,

        The Author of this Blog Post

"She is the one who introduced me to romance novels!"

    --Anonymous 

"I know I love her books and style of writing"

    --Anonymous 

"She is iconic even if you haven't read her books..."

    --Anonymous 

    While many responders chose to remain anonymous, I found it quite fascinating that people from different academic backgrounds like STEM still had a great love for Austen as much as any English person would. No matter the background, it seems that everyone has heard the name Jane Austen. I whole heartedly agree that Miss Jane Austen is and always will be iconic. 

Anahi A. Interviews Alyssa Cruz-UIW Student

Jane Austen meets Pennington, NJ with Dr. Salam, Kausam

A moment to reflect on Dr. Salam's appreciation for Jane Austen 

 

Dr. Salam, 

I would like to express my appreciation for your time and efforts during our our interview. You are so fond of Jane Austen. The insight you provided will be cherished by many and I am thankful for you kindness.       

. 

My favorite quote from the book: "My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me forever".  

                       Jane Austen - Pride and Prejudice

My favorite line from the 2005 Film adaptation: 

"You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on".  

                         Mr. Darcy - Pride and Prejudice

Carly Ermer Interviews Dr. John Kainer

Upon interviewing Dr. John Kainer, a Sociology professor at the University of the Incarnate Word, it was no surprise that he would have well-informed comments surrounding how Jane Austen addresses societal standards in Pride and Prejudice.

Dr. Kainer shared that while growing up, his sisters used to watch the films; however, he had not had his own experience until his wife had introduced him to the novel. When Dr. Kainer read Pride and Prejudice, he loved it. Dr. Kainer stated with a laugh, “Darcy was a buffoon,” though he admitted to Mr. Darcy being his favorite character because of how Austen wrote humility into Darcy. Dr. Kainer went further to state that, though Darcy expressed his love for Elizabeth in a terrible manner, overcoming his pride was no small act.

Dr. Kainer stated that humility is necessary for love, “because the social graces at the time were allowed to get in the way of deeply sharing yourself…when it comes to the parts you are not proud of yourself for.” Furthermore, Dr. Kainer said how Darcy and Elizabeth were able to overcome social graces and find the virtues they loved about each other, forcing Elizabeth and Darcy to drop their pride and prejudices toward each other, discovering that they were more similar than they had previously believed themselves to be.

Dr. Kainer was intrigued by how Austen deeply understood human sociology and how she made her social commentary with humor and wit. He found these techniques displayed not only in Darcy and Elizabeth’s relationship, but also in Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet’s relationship. Dr. Kainer shared that he and his wife have opposing opinions on the married couple, stating that he finds Mr. Bennet to be realistic in recognizing his wife’s lack of smarts, whereas his wife finds Mr. Bennet to be a terrible and absent father and husband.